Ringing In The Ears: You’re Not Insane, You’ve Got A Hearing Issue

Many people suffer from a common hearing issue known as tinnitus, or ringing in the ears. The victims of this condition may be subject to slightly irritating to extremely annoying auditory effects, depending on the disorder’s severity. The causes of this malady are varied and although there is no cure for it, many options are available for treating and managing the condition.

While the most common symptom of tinnitus is a faint ringing sound in the ears, this condition can present itself in many forms. In some patients the noise associated with the disorder has been a swishing, buzzing, whistling, roaring, or other such annoying sound. These sounds can appear either intermittently or as constant irritants and in almost all cases, heard only by the sufferer.

The severity of this condition can vary. For many people these “phantom sounds” are heard most often in quiet rooms or settings in which there is low background noise. This makes sleeping and other quiet activities like reading very difficult. In some people, their tinnitus is so severe that the internal noises they perceive can rival or overwhelm external sounds, creating distractions in their daily lives.

Tinnitus is a symptom of other issues, generally hearing damage or other medical problems, not a disease in itself. Possible origins of this condition are certain diseases, reactions to medications, high blood pressure, allergies, and especially old age. In extreme cases, victims of brain tumors also suffer from these same hearing issues.

Exposure to high decibel noises is the most common cause of this hearing problem. Extensive amounts of time spent exposed to gun shots, loud music, power tools, and other damaging noises without hearing protection, is usually the reason for both hearing loss and the sensation of ringing in the ears. Also, auditory discomfort can be experienced by those who have ear wax or other objects blocking their ear canals. Flushing the ears can sometimes help with this temporary condition.

Although there is no tinnitus cure yet, there are a variety of ways to treat and manage the symptoms of this condition. In many cases, reducing alcohol, caffeine, nicotine and especially stress have all been found to alleviate the symptoms of this disorder. Additionally, masking the sound with more agreeable noises is a common coping mechanism that allows many sufferers to sleep and function better. This can be done with tabletop or wearable sound generators, or even a simple CD played at bedtime.

More extreme forms of treatment should only be embarked upon after consulting a physician. When hearing loss is present with this uncomfortable condition, it may be prudent to invest in a hearing aid, as the annoying “phantom noises” may be masked by upping the volume of external sounds. Also, changing medications, or even starting a regime of multivitamins or anti-anxiety drugs may have beneficial effects. Finally, seeking the aid of a counselor may be helpful for those trying to learn how to live with this disorder.

Millions of people worldwide aren’t sleeping properly, annoyed daily, and questioning their sanity, all because of a ringing in their ears, otherwise known as tinnitus. Although some are doomed to suffer this inconvenience due to medical or genetic conditions, most people can avoid ever having it by turning down the volume of their music and using proper hearing protection in loud-noise settings. Hopefully, a cure will be available someday for those currently suffering; in the meantime treatments are available.

There are also a plenty of natural home remedies for tinnitus. To read more about these options visit gethelpfortinnitus.com.